Essay Outline Format
An ideal outline essay format can make the task of writing an essay paper quite easy and fast. The main purpose of an essay outline is to guide you on how to put your points and thoughts together in the final paper for a compelling argument. Read on for the best tips on how to come up with a good format for an essay outline. Besides, we will also show you professionally crafted essay outline format samples for motivation in writing your own.
A good format for an essay outline reveals the various elements that should be covered in a typical essay paper. In this way, you will not easily forget the points to address in the essay. Besides, an outline will also enable you to properly organize your ideas and set the essay towards the desired direction.
Considering that essays are written more in the same way as other academic papers, knowing how to write an essay outline format will help you in crafting other papers as well. Besides, an outline will also save you time since it offers easy reference for all the ideas to be addressed in the essay.
Tips on how to write a good essay outline format
Coming up with a proper essay outline format requires that you know the various aspects of an essay paper and how each should be presented. This will make your work less hectic since it will enable you to determine the specific details to be covered in the outline based on the requirements of the paper.
In order for you to deliver a good and unique format for an essay outline, there are certain preparations that you need to make. Besides, you also have to be selective and creative in order to develop an outstanding outline.
Choose working title that will be used in the final paper. All essay papers have titles and yours too should have one that is not only captivating but also clearly shows the subject of the paper. This will be indicated in the outline. However, you may choose to revise the title even after writing the final essay depending on the purpose of the paper.
Refine your thesis that will serve as the main argument of the essay. Based on the discussion that you intend to present in the essay, you have to make sure that the thesis is well defined in the outline so you clearly know the particular direction to pursue in the essay.
At the point of writing an outline, you should have an idea on the claim that you intend to prove or argue out in the essay. Take time to carefully look at it once again and make sure that it can effectively serve the purpose of your essay. A good thesis should be one that you will be able to comprehensively discuss in the paper.
Since an outline is a ‘blueprint’ for the final essay, it should present the specific points that will be addressed therein. This implies you should consider doing proper analysis on the points in order to determine the particular ones that will be listed in the outline. Bear in mind that the outline should only highlight the basics of the paper and not every detail.
Carefully check your sources since you will be required to give references in the paper. Even if there are certain points that seem too god for the discussion but do not have credible sources, it is important that you do not list them in the outline.
Depending on the ideas that you have gathered from your research, take a critical look at each one of them. Try to develop connections between those ideas through comparison and contrast. Identify the main points that will be used as topic sentences in the outline. Topic sentences are basically phrases or statements that will be used to introduce new paragraphs. In fact, each topic sentence should highlight the main argument for every paragraph in your essay.
If necessary, you can do further research on the points just to be sure that you have best ones that will help in delivering a convincing argument in the essay.
After choosing your topic sentences, it is also important that you establish the best examples or evidence to support those claims. While doing this, it is advisable that you refer to the thesis statement in order to establish the most relevant examples to list in the outline.
An outline format only gives a framework of the things to be covered in the essay. Therefore, it is recommended that you use bullets, numbers or letters of the alphabet in listing your points precisely. This will also enhance the clarity of points in the outline for easy reference when writing.
Always try to only list the basic points that will be discussed in the paper without giving a lot of details. Preserve the details and explanations for the essay, however, ensure that all the points listed in the outline are written in simple language and phrases that will not give you a hard time remembering.
Steps on how to write an essay outline format
Essays are academic papers and this implies there are certain procedures that have to be followed in writing. The steps outlined below will guide you on how to easily come up with a good essay outline format.
To make the work much easier and enhance clarity in points, it is advisable that you categorize the outline format into three main sections; introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. In the introduction, you will list the opening points and thesis.
The body paragraphs section should consist of the topic sentences, examples or evidence and any other important information like quotes that can be used to support the main claim. The conclusion should indicate your final points on the subject of discussion.
It is important that your outline format starts with the title for the essay, clearly written at the top of the page.
Indicate the opening statements
In order to prepare the way for your essay, it is important that you also write a short sentence depicting how the discussion will be introduced. This can be just a statement or two, giving a general overview of the subject of the essay.
Write the thesis
Although it is recommended that your points should be precisely listed in the outline, always write the thesis statement as it will appear in the final paper. You can also choose to write a few connecting phrases that will be used to link the introduction to the rest of the essay during the writing process.
Body paragraphs
This is where you are required to clearly list the main points that will be used in proving the thesis. You should create subheadings in this section, showing the points for every paragraph of the essay.
Use the identified topic sentences as subheadings. Under every subheading, clearly write the evidences that will be used to discuss it into detail. In order to make the argument more compelling, it is advisable that you list at least two examples.
Conclusion
A good essay paper must be able to provide the readers with something to learn about the discussion. When writing the points to be used in concluding the essay, always bear in mind that they should be able to hint on the thesis and give your final verdict on the subject. Besides, you can also list points that could point to any future developments or recommendations on the topic.
Just like in the introduction part, you can simply write down the catch phrases or short statements that will be used in making the final submissions about the topic of the essay.
It is also important that you clearly write the references to or sources of information that you intend to share in the paper.
Examples of Essay outlines
Reading essay outline format samples can also be very useful in mastering the art of writing good outlines for essay papers. Refer to the following for more insights on how good outline formats for essays should be written.
Example 1
Sample format for an essay outline
Paper Topic………………………………………………………………………………………
- Introduction
Possible ideas for the introduction
……………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Thesis statement (usually comes last in the intro)
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Body
Main Point………………………………………………………………………………
Examples/ Details/ Explanations
- ………………………………………………………
- ………………………………………………………
- ………………………………………………………
(Read the whole outline format on; https://www.unwsp.edu/documents/13203/40092/ACDSUP_BasicPaperOutline.pdf/a7d8f202-fb27-4ecf-ab6b-95f5da8999ef )
Example 2
Outline format for a Five-paragraph essay
Title……………………………………………………
- Introduction
- Introductory statement…………………………………………………………………
- Thesis statement ………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Body
- First supporting idea (topic sentence)……………………………………………..
i)……………………………………………………………
ii)………………………………………………………….
iii)………………………………………………………….
- Second supporting idea…
(To read the rest of the outline format, simply click on this link; https://www.gallaudet.edu/tip/english-center/writing/essays/5-paragraph-essay-and-outline-the-hazards-of-moviegoing.html )
Example 3
- Outline format for an essay
………………………………………………………………… (Title of the Essay)
- Introduction
- Background information (interesting facts, statistics, rhetorical questions)
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
- Thesis statement (Write it in full)
…………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………….
(Find the sample outline format at; http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/AEP/EN104/outline_essay.htm )
In case you may need help on how to write an outstanding essay outline format, simply talk to us for the best. We have professionals to assist you with all essay papers at your own convenience. You can also visit our homepage to find out more about our essay writing services and how to acquire them.
References
https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/sites/default/files/global/documents/library/essay_outline_worksheet.pdf
http://www.albany.edu/eas/170/outline.htm
http://www.austincc.edu/tmthomas/sample%20outline%201.htm
http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/AEP/EN104/outline_essay.htm